Around the Army

Army Emergency Relief has increased the amount of its grants to wounded warriors evacuated from theater.

In the past, Soldiers medically evacuated from Iraq or Afghanistan were eligible for a $200 grant from AER to help them with incidentals at the new treatment location. In August, that amount was increased to $500.

Army sees cyber threats as imminent

“I think the threat (of cyber-attacks) is very real and could potentially be very near-term,” said Brig. Gen. John Davis, U.S. Cyber Command at Fort Meade, Md.

Davis and other think tank specialists came together Oct. 25-28 at Unified Quest 2012, for a series of seminars where members of academia and U.S. and foreign militaries examine critical issues to current and future force development.

Key takeaways from Unified Quest 2012 include:

As the world population grows, increased global competition for affordable finite resources, notably energy and rare earth materials, could fuel regional conflict
Water is the new oil, and its scarcity will confront regions at an accelerated pace in this decade
Super-empowered individuals will have the capacity for widespread influence and the ability to change local and state events
Tight monetary policy, infrastructure enhancements, and advanced technology investments will set conditions for economic recovery from 2020 to 2028
U.S. retrenchment, if it occurs, will be a transient state
The United States will retain relative supremacy, but by a smaller margin, requiring selective strategic choices
Land power is required for sustainable solutions, to pursue national interests, and to demonstrate resolve
Technological advancements through 2028 are expected to increase, and will impact all facets of life
Dynamic changes in the Islamic world will continue

“The purpose of this symposium is about plausible strategic landscapes,” said Col. Kevin Felix, director of the Army’s Future Warfare Division.